Apparatus for impregnating wood.



No. 676,060. Patented )une Il, |90I. S. WILLNER.

APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING WOOD.

(Application le'd Apr. 2, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

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hl ATTORNEY No. 676,060. Patented lune Il, |90l. S. WILLNER.

APPARATUS FUR IMPREGNATING WOOD.

(Application med Apr. 2, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

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ATTORNEY No. 676,060. Patented lune Il, I90I. S. WILL-NER.

APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING WOOD.

INVENTOR: MN BY wiLL/NER @mirc @www (Application led Apr. 2, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

`SIGMUND \VILLNER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE VVILLNER VOOD COMPANY, OF NEV JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING WOOD.

3172i FICA TECN forming part ef Letters Patent No. 676,060, dated J' une 11, 1901.

Application filed April 2, 1900. Serial No. 11,053. (No model.)

To (LZ/Z whom irl mfr/y concern:

Be it known that I, SIGMUND WILLNER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Impregnating \Vood; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My present invention has reference to a novel construction and arrangement of apparatus for properly treating wood with a mixture adapted to enter the pores of the wood, such mixture having excessive hardening properties, whereby the wood is rendered resistible or tenacious to pressure and can be subjected to the action ot' a die or dies bearing a design and under proper pressure can be provided with an ornamentation in perfect imitation of hand-carving without the least danger of distorting or tearing the fiber of the wood no matter whether the pressure is applied across or longitudinally with the grain of the piece, slab, or block of wood.

The apparatus forming the subject-matter of this invention is also applicable for the treatment of Wood in the form of boards, slabs, blocks, or any other shape with a tireproofing tnixture,wl1ercby it is made perfectly reproof, and also for rendering wood waterproof.

My invention therefore has for its principal objects the production of a novel construction of apparatus for the treatment of wood therein for the purposes above stated, and, in fact, for any other purposes, not here specitically mention ed,of preparing or treating wood prior to its being provided with a surface ornamentation in imitation of hand-carving or the like, or for the impregnation of wood with a filler compound ot' any nature.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple and operative device for thoroughly applying the mixture with which the Wood is to be treated over the entire surface of thc wood prior to the impregnation thereof with such mixture,whereby considerable time and expense will be saved during the treatment of the wood and whereby the Wood is rendered tenacious and resistible to pressure, and, furthermore, deeper, sharper, and more clearly-defined ornamentations can be produced in the wood.

The invention therefore consists in the novel apparatus for the treatmentof wood or other material with a mixture or solution to render the wood tenacious or resistible to pressure or for fireprooting or waterproofing the wood.

The invention consists, furthermore, in the several novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and the parts thereof, all of which will be fully described in the accompanying specification and then nally embodied in the clauses of the claim which form a part thereof.

My invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view of the apparatus for treating the wood and embodying the principles of this invention, and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the cylinder or tank in which the wood is placed for treatment. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the said cylinder, taken on line 4 -1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on line 5 5 in said Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is is a similar section taken on line 6 6 in said Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detail section, on an enlarged scale, of a certain arrangement of spray and steam-heater pipes in the lower portion of the cylinder in which the Wood is placed, illustrating also in connection therewith an exhaust-pipe, looking toward the rear of the cylinder. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, of sprayer-pipes; and Fig. lO is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a tightening means connected with the door at one end of the cylinder in which the wood is treated.

Similar numerals of referenceare employed in all of the said above-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

In said drawings, l indicates one or more suitably-constructed cylinders or tanks suitably supported on legs or supports 2, resting in the present case upon girders 3, which in IOO turn are supported by the foundation-walls 4. Suitably secured upon legs or supports 5, placed upon the foundations 6, are a pair of cylinders or tanks 7 and 8. Each cylinder or tank 7 and 8 has a pressure-gage 9 and a glass gage 10, thro ugh which the height of the iiuid in the tanks may be seen. Each cylinder or tank is also provided with a safety valve 11, substantially as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Each cylinder or tank 7 and 8 is also provided with a suitably-constructed cover 12, which is hinged, as at 13, to the dome 14 and can be securely closed down upon a packing or gasket 15 by the pivoted bolts 16 and nuts 17, as will be evident from Fig. 2 of the drawings. Each cylinder or tank 7 and S is provided, preferably at the back, with a suitably-constructed cover 1S or other means providing a suitable opening for cleaning out the said cylinders or tanks.

Connected with one end of the cylinder or tank 7, preferably at the front and at or near the bottom thereof, is a pipe 19, which connects with a pipe 20, having a valve 21. Said pipe 19 is also connected, by means of a suitablepipe 22,Withasuitably-constructed forcepump 2S. Connected in like manner with the other cylinder or tank 8, preferably at the front and at or near the bottom, is a pipe 23, which connects with a pipe 24, in which there is a valve 25. This pipe 24 is likewise connected by means ot' a pipe 27 with the forcepump 28. It will thus be evident that either of said cylinders 7 or 8 can be placed in direct communication through the said pump 2S with apipe 26 when either of said valves 21 and 25 are closed or opened, as necessity demands and as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

As above stated, one or more cylinders 1 may be used for the treatment of the wood. In the present case I have illustrated a twin arrangement of cylinders; but it will be understood that I do not limit my invention to this arrangement of cylinders 1 and connecting parts, although I will describe such arrangement in the present specification.

Upon the pipe 26 I have secured a T-fitting 29, from Which extends to the right a pipe 30, having a valve 31 and a pipe 32, which passes upwardly to a point near the central axis of one of said cylinders or tanks 1. At this point said pipe 32 has a fitting 33, from which a pipe 34 extends into said cylinder, and also has another pipe 35, provided with a valve 3G, extending therefrom. The said pipe 35 connects with a T-fitting 37, into which leads a main steam-supplypipe 3S, which maybe provided with a valve. In like manner I have connected to the fitting 29 a pipe 40, having a valve 41, and an upwardly-extending pipe 42, which terminates at a point near the central aXis of the other of said pair of cylinders or tanks 1. This pipe is provided at the top with a fitting 43, from which a pipe, similar in arrangement to the pipe 34, connected with tlie fitting 33, extends into said cylinder or tank. A pipe 44, in which there is a valve 45, also connects the fitting 43 with the T-tting 37,and consequently with the main steampipe 38.

Each cylinder 1 has an opening 39 at a suitable point in the bottom, with which is connected a pipe 45, in which there is a valve 4U. Each pipe 45 of each cylinder l. is connected by means of a fitting 47 in the respective pipes 32 and 42, as will be seen more especially from Figs. 1 and 2. Leading from a suitable point in the top of each cylinder or tank 1 is a pipe 48, provided with a valve 49, the pipe 48 bcing connected with a main pipe 50 in any suitable manner, which leads to a suitable eX- hauster or condenser of any well-known construction for causing a vacuum in the cylinders 1 for the purposes hereinafter more fully set forth. Each cylinder l is also provided with a suitable pressure-gage 51 and a vacuum-indicator 52. Also connected with the fitting 37 is a steam-inlet pipe 53, having a T-tting 54, and oppositelyextending branch pipes 55 and 56, which are respectively connected at 57 with the respective cylinders or tanks 1. In the pipe 55 there is a valve 58, and in the pipe 5G there is a valve 59.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2, a heater-pipe t5() for steam or other heating medium connects with the cylinder or tank 7 and with a heating pipe or pipes 61, suitably arranged in said cylinder, as indicated in dotted outline.

I will now describe the construction of the tank or tanks l and the arrangement of the Various parts and the pipes within said tank or tanks l.

The tank or cylinder 1, as will be seen from Fig. G, is provided at its inner surface with longitudinally-extend ing cleats or angle-irons 62, on which I have placed shelves G3 for the placing thereon of the wood (in the shape of boards, blocks, slabs, or thelike) to be treated. Said shelves are preferably made of Woven wire or other suitable material which will not obstruct the flow of any liquid therethrough which is to be passed into the cylinder or tank 1. At one end the cylinder or tank 1 has a hinged or other suitable arrangement of door 64, which is provided in its circumferential edge with a suitable arrangement of receiving-slots 65. Encircling the outer peripheral edge of this end of the cylinder 1 and suitably secured thereto is a ring 6G, provided with a packing or gasket (57 and swing-bolts (5S, which can be arranged in said slots and the door then hermetically sealed by drawing up tight certain nuts G9 on said bolts 63, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of Fig. 10. In the opposite ends of each cylinder 1 is a screw-fitting 71, into which the ends of the pipes 34 of the respective fittings and 43 are screwed. Said ends of each cylinder also have a similar fitting 71/, with which the parts 57 of the steam-pipes 55 and 56 are connected. Se cured in said screw-fitting 71, on the inner IOO IIO

side of the cylinder 1, is a union or connection 72 and a fitting 73, which has connected therewith the radially-extending pipes 74. At the opposite end of said cylinder 1 is another fitting 75, and connected therewith are radially-arranged pipes 76. These two f1ttings 73 and 75 are also connected by means of a longitudinal pipe 77, extending centrally in the cylinder 1, said pipe being provided in its cylindrical body with spray-holes or perforations 78, substantially as illustrated. The outer ends of said radially-extending pipes 74 and76 are connected by the longitudinal pipes 79, having a suitable arrangement of holes orperforations 8O for spraying the liquid in an inward direction toward the center of the cylinder 1. Suitable supporting devices, as 81X, may be arranged within the cylinder 1, substantially as shown, for rigidly securing the various pipes 77 and 79 and the radially-extending pipes 74 and 76 in place. The said end 70,as has been stated, is also provided with the fitting 71', in which I have secured a pipe 81, which is connected with a header 81. Downwardly-extending pipes 82 are connected with the header, at the rear thereof, and each pipe 82 has a pipe 83, which extends longitudinally at or near the bottom of the cylinder, as will be clearly evident from an inspection of Figs. 5, 6, and 7. At or near the rear of the cylinder or tank these pipes 83 are preferably all connected with a pipe or header 84, provided with an outlet 85, which is tapped in the fitting 86 in the bottom of the tank or cylinder 1, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 7, for drawing off any exhaust or condensed steam in said pipes 83, as will be clearly understood.

Having described the construction of the apparatus made according to my present invention, I will now briefly set forth its use and operation for rendering wood or other material tenacious or resistible to pressure from a die or dies without distorting or tearing the ber or for rendering the wood fireproof or impervious to moisture afterhaving been impregnated with the mixture or fluid to which the wood or other material is treated.

After having placed kiln-dried wood or other material, in the form of boards, slabs, blocks, or other suitable pieces, upon the shelves 63 in the cylinder or cylinders 1 the door 64 is closed and sealed, as above stated. The various valves 2l, 25, 31, and 41 having been closed, the valves 49 in the pipes 48 also having been closed, I open either or both sets of valves 36 and 58 and 45 and 59 and admit steam into the cylinder or cylinders 1 for the purpose of opening up the pores in the wood and also removing any sap that may be contained in the wood. After a time the various valves 36, 58, 48, and 59 are again closed and valves 49 in the pipes 48 opened. Then by means of a pumping-condenser or other suitable mechanism located in the pipe 50 all steam and air is drawn off from the cylinder or cylinders 1, and after a vacuum has been created (to be indicated by the gage 52) the valves 49 are again closed. In the tank or cylinder 7 is contained a suitable mixture of water and glue, which is kept in a liquid state by the heat from the heating-pipe 6l. I now open the valves 21 and 31 and 41 if both cylinders 1 are being used at the same time or only one of said valves 31 or41 if but one cylinderl is being operated. The liquid from the cylinder or tank 7 is thus pumped through the various pipes into the spray-pipes of the cylinder or cylinders 1, from which the liquid is sprayed in all directions and over the several surfaces of the wood or other material upon the shelves 63. The liquid which is in this manner sprayed into the cylinder or cylinders 1 is further kept for soine time under pressure from the pump 28, with which the respective pipes are connected, and is also heated by turning steam into the longitudinal pipes 83. After a time the vacuum in the cylinder or cylinders lis again broken by opening the valve or valves 49 and admitting air from the main pipe 50. The valve 46 in the pipe 45 is now opened and any surplus liquid in the cylinder or cylinders 1 passes back, through the arrangement of piping illustrated in Fig. 1, into the cylinder or tank 7. This having been accomplished, I now close valves 46, 21, and land also all the valves iu the steam-pipes. A vacuum is once more created in the manner stated above, and when produced valve or valves 49 are closed. I then open valve 25 and valves 31 and 41 if both cylinders 1 are used, or only one valve 31 or 41, according to which cylinder 1 is in operation; but valve 21 is kept closed. In the cylinder or tank 8 I have a liquid mixture of mica in acid4 or any other suitable mixture adapted for hardening or tireproofing purposes. This liquid mixture is then forced by means of the pump 28 through the respective pipes into the cylinder or cylinders 1 and into the spray-pipes, from which it is sprayed into the cylinder and over and around the wood or material upon the shelves 63 and will penetrate and thoroughly impregnate the wood or other material. At the same time this liquid mixture from the cylinder or tank 8 is preferably kept under pressure from the pump 28; but no steam is added. After the wood has been treated in this manner for the proper length of time the vacuum-valves 49 are opened, and valves 46 are also opened to permit any surplus liquid in the cylinder or cylinders 1 to again iiow back into the cylinder or tank 8. The various valves may then all be closed and the door to each cylinder 1 opened for the removal of the wood or other material which had been placed therein for treatment.

The impregnated wood, after it has again been dried, soon becomes very hard and tenacious and is then in proper condition for subjecting it to the action of a die or dies IOO bearing a design, and an ornamentation can be produced in the wood in perfect imitation of hand-carving.

The apparatus may also be used for reproofing wood in a manner similar to that above set forth or for impregnating Wood or other material with filler compounds of the various kinds.

The use of sprayer-pipes in the cylinder or cylinders 1 is of the greatest advantage in that the liquid mixtures are distributed over the entire surface of the wood in ne spray, and thereby readily penetrate the pores of the wood to a greater depth than if the liquid mixtures were passed into the cylinder in large volume. The liquid would in that case merely stop up the pores in the wood at or near the surface and would run off and collect in the bottom of the cylinder without producing the desired results.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In an apparatus for impregnating wood, or other material, a cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, a central spray-pipe connected with said inlet, spray-pipes at or near the inner surface of said cylinder or tank, and connecting-pipes between the severalspray-pipes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In an apparatus for impregnating wood, or other material, a cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, acentral spray-pipe connected with said inlet, spray-pipes at or near the inner surface of said cylinderor tank, and connecting pipes between the several spraypipes, and an arrangement of shelves in said cylinder or tank, constructed to permit the dow or passage of a sprayed liquid through said shelves, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In an apparatus for impregnating wood, or other material, a cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, a central spray-pipe connected with said inlet, spray-pipes at or near the inner surface of said cylinder or tank, and connectingpipes between the several spraypipes, combined with a pair of cylinders or tanks 7 and S, and a means of communication between the Various tanks, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In an apparatus for impregnatingwood, or other material, a cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, a central spray-pipe connected with said inlet, spray-pipes at or near the inner surface of said cylinder or tank, and connecting -pipes between the several spraypipes, and an arrangement of shelves in said cylinder or tank, constructed to permit the flow or passage of a sprayed liquid through said shelves, combined with a pair of cylinders or tanks 7 and 8, and a means of communication between the various tanks, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an apparatus il'or impregnating wood, or other material, a tank or cylinder containing the liquid for impregnation, a pump, a pipe connection between said pump and tank or cylinder in which the wood or material to be treated is arranged, a pipe connection between said tank or cylinder and the pump, and a valve or valves in said last-mentioned pipe connection, and a spraying means in said impregnating tank or cylinder, consisting of a central spray-pipe, spray-pipes at or near the inner surface of said impregnating cylinder or tank, and connecting-pipes between the several spray-pipes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In an apparatus for impregnating wood, or other material, a tank or cylinder containing the liquid for impregnation, a pump, a pipe connection between said pump and tank or cylinder, and a valve in said pipe, an impregnating tank or cylinder in which the wood or material to be treated is arranged, a pipe connection between said tank or cylinder and the pump, and a valve or valves in said last-mentioned pipe connection, and a steam pipe or pipes connected with and leading into said impregnating tank or cylinder, and a spraying means in said impregnating tank or cylinder, consisting, essentially, of a central spray-pipe, spray-pipes at or near the inner surface of said impregnating tank or cylinder, and radially-arranged connectingpipes between the several spray-pipes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In an apparatus for impregnating wood, or other material, a tank or cylinder containing liquid for impregnation, a pump, a pipe connection between said pump and tank or cylinder, and a valve in said pipe, an impregnating tank or cylinder in which the wood or material to be treated is arranged, a pipe connection between said tank or cylinder and the pump, and a valve or valvesin said last-mentioned pipe connection, and a steam pipe or pipes connected with and leading into said impregnating tank or cylinder, and means connected with said impregnating-cylinder for creating a vacuum therein, and a spraying means in said impregnating tank or cylinder, consisting, essentially, of a central spray-pipe, spray-pipes at or near the inner surface of said impregnating tank or cylinder, and radially-arranged connecting-pipes between the several spray-pipes,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In an apparatus for impregnating wood, or other material, a cylinder or tank l, having an inlet and an outlet, an arrangement of spray-pipes connected with said inlet, consisting, essentially, of a central spray-pipe 77, spray-pipes 79, and connecting-pipes between said spray-pipes, and a heating means connected with said cylinder or tank l, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In an apparatus for impregnating wood, or other material, a cylinder or tank l, having an inlet and an outlet, an arrangement of spray-pipes connected with said inlet, consisting, essentially, of a central spray-pipe 77, spray-pipes 79, and connecting-pipes between said spray-pipes, and a heating means con- IOO IIO

nected with said cylinder or tank l, consisting of a steam-pipe leading into said cylinder or tank, a head connected with said pipe, pipes 82 connected with said header, and longitudinally-arranged pipes 83 connected with said pipes S2, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In an apparatus for impregnating wood, the combination, with a cylinder or tank containing the liquid with which the Wood is to be treated, of an impregnating cylinder or tank in which the Wood to be impregnated is placed, a spraying means in said impregnating cylinder or tank, consisting, essentially, of a central spray-pipe, spray-pipes at or near the inner surface of said impregnating cylinder or tank, and radially-arranged connecting-pipes between the several spray-pipes, and means for conveying the liquid from said first-mentioned cylinder or tank into said impregnating cylinder or tank, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above l have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of March, 1900.

SIGMUND VILLNER.

Witnesses:

Jos. H. DICKINsoN, FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL. 

